Discussions on politics and other topics of interest in the Town of New Hartford, N.Y.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Wouldn't it be nice...

IF...the tax receiver's office was able to accept debit/credit cards for tax payments like many other towns do? There are actually companies who specialize in helping municipalities make this available to their residents with no loss in tax revenue to the town.

IF...the tax collector's office was open more hours...like tax receiver offices in most other towns? Almost all tax receiver offices in other towns in NYS at least have extended evening and Saturday hours just before taxes are due and during the time that taxes are received with penalty and many are actually full-time positions. Not in New Hartford...

According to reports filed with the NYS Comptroller's office, our tax receiver works on average 360 hours a year and the pay is $26,098 per year...that is without the 38% proposed pay raise during the 2011 budget discussions!

And wouldn't it be nice...

IF...elected officials who only work on average 360 hours a year did not receive health, dental and legal insurance all paid for by taxpayer dollars?

New regulations now require towns to file a report to the State outlining the standard work day for all elected and appointed employees for retirement purposes.

Here is the report adopted by the New Hartford Town Board at the May 26, 2010 town board meeting to satisfy this requirement. All highlighted positions receive town-paid employee benefits to include health, dental and legal:

[click on graphic to view in larger print]

Note: While, according to the Employee Handbook, the Highway Superintendent is eligible to receive paid health benefits, the current Highway Superintendent has opted to not receive them.

And wouldn't it be nice...

IF...tax bills were available online so you could print a copy at home if your tax bill was misplaced or for some other reason you needed a copy and you wanted to pay your taxes by mail instead of having to find time to visit the tax receiver's office when they are open just to get a copy of your tax bill?

Many towns in New York State have their tax bills online; in fact, all 2009 through 2011 town tax bills in Oneida County are already online on the Oneida County website, but they are in a pdf format with several tax bills on each page; you cannot print just one tax bill.

These are some of the ideas recently presented to the New Hartford Republican Committee by a member of Concerned Citizens.

By the way, have you read the State Comptroller's Audit Report regarding the Town of New Hartford Tax Receiver's office?

New Hartford boasts about how progressive the town is, but wouldn't a progressive town already be on board with these taxpayer conveniences? This isn't rocket science...